Hinge.



W. M. CARTER.

HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED 001226, 1910.

1,055,516, Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

W/T/VESSES INVENTOR UNITED srarn AIENT OFFICE.

WILLIS MASON CARTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHIG COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, WILLIS Mason CAR- rnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding devices; and, while it may be embodied in constructions adapted for various purposes, it is more particularly applicable to hinges when used with light objects.

Objects ofthe invention are to provide a hinge which is particularly suitable for use with light folding elements; which can be easily and quickly applied to said elements; which will connect the elements in close relation; which will be inconspicuous; and which will be very simple and cheap in construction. These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part be more fully explained in the following description.

The invention consists in the novel parts, improvements, combinations and features of construction herein 'shown and described.

The accompanying drawings which are referred to herein and form a part hereof, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, the same serving in connection with the description herein to. explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of an advertising folder embodying my invention, showing the folder in a position suitable for exhibition purposes;

. and Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sections of the same, parts being broken away, showin the folding elements and the hinge in diflerent positions.

A folding device constructed in accordance with certain features of my invention includes in combination, a pair of folding elements, a hinge connecting said elements, said hinge comprising a flexible member extending through eachof said elements from an adjoining edge to an adjacent surface thereof, and means for securing said member in operative position. In one embodiment of the invention, said flexible member extends through each of said folding elements from its adjoining edge at a point near its front face to a point in its rear face, and the opposite ends of said flexible member are turned toward the adjoining edges of said elements to form securing members.

Referring now in'detail to the drawing, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a folder suitable for advertising purposes. While the folder may take various shapes and be made of a varying number of parts, as shown, it comprises a pair of folding elements or sides 1, 2, oblong in shape and of suitable dimensions.

The particular construction embodying the invention and illustrated in the drawings is intended for display purposes, as on a show case or in a, window and preferably is to present to view only the front face containing the advertising matter. This advertising matter may be of a quantityor design requiring more or diflerently disposed space than is afforded by only one of said folding elements or sides 1, 2, and it may not be desired to enlarge one of said side pieces to accommodate the said matter. It will be seen, however, that it may be very desirable to have no space between the two side pieces or elements of the folder or any pronounced line of demarcation. For example, the advertising matter may consist of the representation of a design, as of a human face, extending over the adjoining portions of the two folding elements, and the space within which the folder is to be dis played may be so confined that the folder must be folded at an angle, as illustrated, in which case, the adjoining edges of the folding elements 1, 2, must be kept in close contact, to preserve the continuity of the design, yet be foldable with relation to each other, While at the same time the folding means is outof sight or inconspicuous. By so keeping the sides of the folder at an angle, also supports for keeping the device erect may be dispensed with if desired.

The prime feature of the invention therefore, relates to the means provided for foldably connecting the said elements 1, 2; and, while the connecting means may be of various forms used in divers ways, preferably and as shown, said elements are connected by a hinge which preferably comprises a member 3, which, as shown is made of a stri of flexible material, as tin. In the embodimentof the invention illustrated this flexible member 3 extends through each folding element from its ed e adjoining its companion element to an adjacent surface,

and preferably and as shown, it extends diagonally through the element from a point in its adjoining edge near its front face to a point in its rear face, see Fig. 2. It will be seen that there is thus provided a hinge, which While sufliciently flexible, will yet give the required rigidity to the device and at the same time be not in view. In order, however, that the hinge may be held securely in place, means are provided for securing, preferably the ends of the flexible member 3 to the folding elements 1 and 2. While this may be done in various ways and with different instrumentalities, preferably and as shown, the ends, 5, 6, of the flexible member which project beyond the rear face of the device are turned inwardly in the direction of the adjoining edges of said elements. By this means although the device may be often flexed, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the edges of the adjoining folding elements will be kept in the desired close relation.

It will be seen that a folder constructed in accordance with my invention is at once simple, cheap, and easily constructed, and besides carrying out the objects of the invention, as heretofore alluded to, possesses other advantages which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In its broader aspects my IIWGIIHOII. is not limited to the precise construction shown and described, nor to any particular construction by which the same has been or may be carried into efiect, as many changes may be made in the details ther of without departing from the main principle of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

A folding device including in combination, a pair of folding elements havin adjoining edges, a hinge connecting sai ele ments, said hinge comprising a flexible member extending through each of said elements from the adjoining edge to an adjacent surface thereof, and having its opposite ends extended beyond the surfaces of said elements to form securing means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIS MASON CARTER.

Witnesses j I. P. TEN EYCK, H. A. (brown. 

